Sex Differences in Driving Performance

Abstract

Sex differences in the psychomotor performance characteristics of 89 male and 74 female licensed drivers were evaluated through the use of a driving simulator. Thirteen measurements of steering input, accelerator input, speed maintenance, and lateral placement were made. Data were subjected to a series of multiple discriminant analyses. Discrimination was found between sex groupings, sex/violation groupings, sex/accident groups, sex/driving exposure groupings, sex/type of driving groupings, sex/risk groupings, and sex/driver education groupings. Since basic differences were demonstrated, aspects of the transportation system, such as accident countermeasure efforts and driver education programs which have been primarily developed on the basis of male driving performance data, might be in need of re-evaluation.